If you want to continue receiving security patches for Windows 10, be prepared to pay

If you want to continue receiving security updates in Windows 10 as soon as Microsoft stops supporting this operating system, get ready to pay. Redmond announced an expanded subscription renewal program that will be available to select users for the first time.

Extended Security Updates (ESU) are nothing new to the Windows ecosystem. However, they were previously intended for companies or organizations that were still using older versions of the operating system. But that will change once Windows 10 reaches the end of its support cycle.

As Microsoft has confirmed, both commercial and individual Windows 10 users will be able to subscribe to the ESU program when regular updates are no longer available. As such, those wishing to open the wallet will continue to receive patches to fix “critical and important” security flaws.

Although the company doesn’t specify it, the option for individual users will be similar to the one available for business customers. This will mean that security updates for Windows 10 will be available. For three yearsonce the operating system reaches the end of its “useful life”.

Please be aware that support for Windows 10 will end. October 14, 2025. This will extend ESU coverage until 2028.

Windows 10 will offer security patches via subscription

It is worth noting that those who do not wish to participate in the Extended Security Update program They will be able to continue using Windows 10 as usual when support ends.. But if there is a security issue, they won’t have any backup.

Microsoft continues to encourage individual users to upgrade their computers to Windows 11. Although it is clear that Redmond knows that its latest operating system does not yet position itself as the preferred option for the majority of the population.

That’s why, following historical implications, Satya Nadella’s team has decided to enable the option to continue receiving critical updates for a fee from October 2025. I reiterate that this option was previously only offered to companies or organizations that – by choice or lack of options – continued to be locked into older versions of the software.

How much will you have to pay to continue receiving security updates on Windows 10? This is not known yet. Microsoft only mentioned that it will be an annual subscription, and the price will be announced later. This is reported on the operating system support page:

“If you are an individual consumer or organization who chooses to continue using Windows 10 after support ends on October 14, 2025, you will have the option to enroll your PC in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. The ESU program allows computers to continue to receive critical and important security updates with an annual subscription after support ends. More details, including prices, will be provided at a later date.

“The ESU program offers individuals and organizations of all sizes the opportunity to extend their Windows 10 PC beyond the end of support date in a safer way.”

Windows 10 continues to be an extremely popular operating system. In fact, it was recently announced that the software will include Copilot, Microsoft’s virtual assistant powered by OpenAI artificial intelligence. It’s true that Windows 11 has changed a lot since the controversy that erupted after its launch, but even so, many users chose to stay with the software released in 2015.

Will individual users be willing to pay to continue receiving security updates for Windows 10? It is impossible to know for now. Although much, of course, depends on how much Microsoft intends to charge for offering these updates. In addition, there are rumors that Windows 12 will be available after support for Windows 10 ends. Therefore, we will have to see whether it is convenient both technically and economically.